Postdoctoral position to study Polo kinase and centrosome abnormalities in cancer and other diseases

Employer: National Cancer Institute, NIH

Location: Bethesda, Maryland

Salary: Starts at $67,200 for fellows with 0 yr postdoc training (+ annual raise) and full health insurance

Closing date: Feb 3, 2026

Discipline: Life Sciences, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Cell Biology, Computational Biology, Structural Biology

Position Type: Full Time

Job Type: Postdoc, Postdoc Fellowship

Organization Type: Academia

Job Details

Investigating the role of Polo kinases (Plk4 and Plk1) in orchestrating centrosomal organization, cell signaling and proliferation, and tumorigenesis using cell biological, biochemical, structural, and cryo-EM approaches

Position Description:

A postdoctoral fellowship is available to study the function of mammalian polo-like kinase 4 and 1 (Plk4 and Plk1), which play central roles in regulating various biological events, including centriole duplication, bipolar spindle formation, chromosome segregation, cell division, and proliferation. Dysregulation of Plk4/Plk1-dependent processes, by mutations in their associated cellular components or HIV accessory proteins, is tightly linked to the development of aneuploidy and cancer. During the past several years, we have been taking cell biological, biochemical, biophysical, and structural approaches (e.g., super-resolution imaging, single molecule tracking, in vitro reconstitution, X-ray crystallography, and cryo-EM) to delineate the molecular bases and structural rules governing the centrosomal architecture and function, the deregulation of which can lead to the development of various human diseases, including cancers, microcephaly, and AIDS. For additional information, please visit https://ccr.cancer.gov/staff-directory/kyung-s-lee.

Fellows who have an expertise inthe field of cell biology, X-ray crystallography, or cryo-EMwith a keen interest in learningabout the organization and function of the centrosome and their relevance to pathophysiological disorders, such as cancer and AIDS,are encouraged to apply. Applicants should have a Ph.D. (or be expected to receive a Ph.D.) or M.D. equivalent at the time of joining the lab and have achieved the degree less than 3 years ago.

To apply, please send a CV and three names of references to Dr. Kyung Lee (kyunglee@mail.nih.gov). Starts at $67,200 for fellows with 0 yr postdoc training (+ annual raise) and complete health insurance

Employer Name:National Cancer Institute, NIH.

Position Location: 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, U.S.A.

Selected papers:

1. Park, J.-E, ….., and K. S. Lee. 2024. Centrosome amplification and aneuploidy driven by the HIV-1-induced Vpr-VprBP-Plk4 complex in CD4+ T cells. Nat. Commun. 15:2017. PMID: 38443376.
2. Park, J.-E., K. ….., and K. S. Lee. 2023. Specific inhibition of an anticancer target, polo-like kinase 1, by allosterically dismantling its mechanism of substrate recognition. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 120:e2305037120 (*Direct submission*)
3. Ahn, J. I., ….., and K. S. Lee. 2023. Architectural basis for cylindrical self-assembly governing Plk4-mediated centriole duplication in humans. Commun. Biol. 6:712 PMID:37433832.
4. Lee, K. S. and M. Steinmetz. 2021. Centrosomes in the spotlight: from organization to function and their role in disease. Curr Opin Struct Biol. 66: iii–v. (Invited review). PMID: 33485756.
5. Lee, K. S., et al. 2020. Constructing PCM with architecturally distinct higher-order assemblies. Curr Opin Struct Biol. 66:66-73. (Invited review). PMID: 33176265.
6. Alverez, C. N., ….., and K. S. Lee. 2020. Identification of a new heterocyclic scaffold for inhibitors of the polo-box domain of polo-like kinase 1. J Med Chem. 63:14087-14117. PMID: 33175530.
7. Lee, K. S., et al. 2020. A self-assembled cylindrical platform for Plk4-induced centriole biogenesis. Open Biol. 10:200102 (Invited review). *Featured article (Cover art).* PMID: 32810424.
8. Park, J. -E., ….., and K. S. Lee. 2019. Phase separation of Plk4 by its autoactivation and noncatalytic clustering drives centriole biogenesis. Nat. Commun. 10: 4959. PMID: 31672968. *Featured in “Protein Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation in Diseases” in Nat Commun (2022).*
9. Kim, T.-S., ….., and K. S. Lee. 2019. Molecular architecture of a cylindrical self-assembly at human centrosomes. Nat. Commun.10:1151. PMID: 30858376. *Featured article (Editors’ Highlights).*